HUMAN-RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

This issue of Human Ecology focuses on the interrelated-nature of cris is in human and environmental systems and argues that the right to a h ealthy environment is a fundamental human right. In this article I pre sent a conceptual framework for the ''human rights and environment'' s pecial issue, followed by a brief review of significant insights offer ed by each contributor. Collectively the cases presented in this issue explore connections between international and national policy, govern ment action or sanctioned action, and human environmental crises. Cult ural notions are seen to play a key role in influencing social relatio ns, legitimizing power relations, and justifying the production and re production of human environmental crises. And finally, these cases exp lore the ways in which political, economic, and cultural forces influe nce and at times inhibit efforts to respond to human environmental cri ses.